Erik Gustaf Boström
Encyclopedia
Erik Gustaf Bernhard Boström (11 February 1842 – 21 February 1907) was a Swedish landowner and politician, who was a member of the Swedish Parliament (1876–1907) and Prime Minister of Sweden
twice (1891–1900 and 1902–1905). He was also known as E.G. Boström or E. Gust. Boström.
In 1871, he married Carolina "Lina" Almqvist, with whom he had six daughters and one son. Brother of County Governor Filip Boström and nephew of the philosopher Christopher Jacob Boström
.
Boström’s governmental policy was marked by its pragmatism
. Over time, Boström gained a good reputation as being a rallying national icon despite being the first prime minister to have neither an academic education nor experience with upper governmental positions. He was also quite popular with King Oscar II
. Boström’s eventual downfall was caused by his refusal to budge on the issue of Norway
.
, the son of Eric Samuel Boström, chief judge
of the district court
and his wife Elisabet Gustava Fredenheim. The family
was one branch of the Laestadius family of priests from Norrland
. His paternal grandfather Christopher Laestander, a townsman and ship carpenter in the city of Piteå
, took the surname Boström.
He was tutored by Kristian Claëson, whose first cousin served as the Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs under Boström in 1898. In 1854, he became a student at the Uppsala Cathedral School, which was also the year his father died. It is worth noting that five of his fellow cabinet members during his first term attended the same school: Axel Rappe
, Edvard von Krusenstjerna, Ludvig Annerstedt, Gustaf Gilljam and Lars Åkerhielm. In 1861, he transferred to Uppsala University
, where he studied until 1863 when his mother died and he had to take over her manor Östanå
.
It is interesting to note that as a youth he availed himself of the opportunity to pay to avoid conscription
, which was last possible in 1872.
Boström was quite successful as a farmer
and he started to get involved in local politics. In January 1870, he became a member of the executive committee
of the Agricultural Society of Stockholm County and of the county council
of Stockholm County
, where he also served as vice-chairperson and chairperson for many years. In 1871, he married Carolina Almqvist, daughter of Councillor of Justice and Minister
Ludvig Almqvist
. In 1875, he was elected to the lower house
of parliament
to represent the judicial district of Södra Roslagen. In parliament, he joined the Lantmanna Party
and quickly positioned himself as a leading protectionist
, supporting tariff
protection, in the Standing Committees of Ways and Means and of Banking. In addition, he was interested in a strong defence, which he considered to have manifested itself as a strong marine defence, and a strong opposition to the abolition of the Swedish allotment system.
, Boström became the Chancellor of the Swedish Universities, where he tried unsuccessfully to prevent Bengt Lidforss
from continuing on as associate professor at Lund University
. He then tendered his resignation
from his position as chancellor, although he quickly retracted it. Boström continued to be interested in politics and in a letter that he wrote to his dear old friend Carl Herslow on 4 June, he stated that it would be extremely desirable for the recently retired government to have been able to stay on. He also said in a letter that Staaff's government
could take of social policy
better than a conservative
government could and that Staaff occasionally appeared to possess the ability to accomplish a lot, although he chose a different way. Boström died in his home in Stockholm
on 21 February 1907. A few days later, the bells pealed out over Stockholm to commemorate the former Prime Minister.
Prime Minister of Sweden
The Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
twice (1891–1900 and 1902–1905). He was also known as E.G. Boström or E. Gust. Boström.
In 1871, he married Carolina "Lina" Almqvist, with whom he had six daughters and one son. Brother of County Governor Filip Boström and nephew of the philosopher Christopher Jacob Boström
Christopher Jacob Boström
Christopher Jacob Boström was a Swedish philosopher, regarded by some as Sweden's greatest. His ideas dominated Swedish philosophy until the beginning of the twentieth century...
.
Boström’s governmental policy was marked by its pragmatism
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
. Over time, Boström gained a good reputation as being a rallying national icon despite being the first prime minister to have neither an academic education nor experience with upper governmental positions. He was also quite popular with King Oscar II
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
. Boström’s eventual downfall was caused by his refusal to budge on the issue of Norway
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
.
Childhood and career
Erik Gustaf Boström was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, the son of Eric Samuel Boström, chief judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the district court
District court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
and his wife Elisabet Gustava Fredenheim. The family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
was one branch of the Laestadius family of priests from Norrland
Norrland
Norrland is one of the three lands of Sweden , the northern part, consisting of nine provinces. The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose, but it is common in everyday language, e.g...
. His paternal grandfather Christopher Laestander, a townsman and ship carpenter in the city of Piteå
Piteå
Piteå is a locality and the seat of Piteå Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The town has 22,650 inhabitants out of a municipal total of 41,000 in 2008.- Geography :...
, took the surname Boström.
He was tutored by Kristian Claëson, whose first cousin served as the Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs under Boström in 1898. In 1854, he became a student at the Uppsala Cathedral School, which was also the year his father died. It is worth noting that five of his fellow cabinet members during his first term attended the same school: Axel Rappe
Axel Rappe (born 1838)
Axel Rappe was a Swedish free lord and military officer. Rappe was born in Kristinelund, Kalmar County...
, Edvard von Krusenstjerna, Ludvig Annerstedt, Gustaf Gilljam and Lars Åkerhielm. In 1861, he transferred to Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, where he studied until 1863 when his mother died and he had to take over her manor Östanå
Östanå
Östanå is a locality situated in Östra Göinge Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 221 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
.
It is interesting to note that as a youth he availed himself of the opportunity to pay to avoid conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, which was last possible in 1872.
Boström was quite successful as a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and he started to get involved in local politics. In January 1870, he became a member of the executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
of the Agricultural Society of Stockholm County and of the county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
of Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
, where he also served as vice-chairperson and chairperson for many years. In 1871, he married Carolina Almqvist, daughter of Councillor of Justice and Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
Ludvig Almqvist
Ludvig Almqvist
Ludvig Teodor Almqvist , a Swedish politician, was the son of Sven Johan Almqvist, vicar and priest who married Sophie Antoinette Eugenie Björkman in 1851....
. In 1875, he was elected to the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
to represent the judicial district of Södra Roslagen. In parliament, he joined the Lantmanna Party
Lantmanna Party
Lantmanna Party was a political party in Sweden, essentially a fraction in the parliament which existed from 1867 to 1912 ....
and quickly positioned himself as a leading protectionist
Protectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
, supporting tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
protection, in the Standing Committees of Ways and Means and of Banking. In addition, he was interested in a strong defence, which he considered to have manifested itself as a strong marine defence, and a strong opposition to the abolition of the Swedish allotment system.
Chancellor of the Swedish Universities 1905–1907
After he retired from his position as Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Boström became the Chancellor of the Swedish Universities, where he tried unsuccessfully to prevent Bengt Lidforss
Bengt Lidforss
Bengt Lidforss was a prominent Swedish socialist, and an accomplished natural scientist and writer.- Biography :...
from continuing on as associate professor at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
. He then tendered his resignation
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
from his position as chancellor, although he quickly retracted it. Boström continued to be interested in politics and in a letter that he wrote to his dear old friend Carl Herslow on 4 June, he stated that it would be extremely desirable for the recently retired government to have been able to stay on. He also said in a letter that Staaff's government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
could take of social policy
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
better than a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
government could and that Staaff occasionally appeared to possess the ability to accomplish a lot, although he chose a different way. Boström died in his home in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
on 21 February 1907. A few days later, the bells pealed out over Stockholm to commemorate the former Prime Minister.
Family
- One brother, County GovernorCounty GovernorCounty Governor is a Norwegian government agency represented in 18 of the Norwegian counties responsible for a number of supervision and management duties. The Governor is the representative of the King and Government of Norway in each county, functioning as the connection between the state and...
of Södermanland CountySödermanland CountySödermanland County is a county or län on the south east coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Östergötland, Örebro, Västmanland, Uppsala, Stockholm and to the Baltic sea....
Filip Boström. - One sister Ebba Augusta, who worked with a charity.
- Six daughters: Hedvig, Carolina Elisabeth, Sofia Lovisa, Clara Gustafva, Ingeborg Maria and Eva Margareta.
- One son: ChamberlainChamberlain (office)A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
Gustaf Samuel Boström. - Married to Carolina Almqvist, daughter of Councillor of Justice and MinisterMinister (government)A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
Ludvig AlmqvistLudvig AlmqvistLudvig Teodor Almqvist , a Swedish politician, was the son of Sven Johan Almqvist, vicar and priest who married Sophie Antoinette Eugenie Björkman in 1851....
.